House Rules Committee hears key marijuana amendments

A federal legislative committee could soon determine the fate of several proposals to protect existing and future state marijuana laws, businesses and research.

On Wednesday, The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules continued hearing testimony and considering amendments to the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2018 (H.R. 3354), a spending bill set to go before Congress later this month.

Headlining the marijuana-related proposals heard by the committee is the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, which would bar the Justice Department from using funds to interfere with existing state-enacted medical marijuana regulations.

The amendment formerly known as Rohrabacher-Farr (Rep. Sam Farr has retired) has been implemented in previous years; however, its continued adoption during the current administration has been questioned. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wrote to congressional leaders earlier this year opposing the amendment’s inclusion, stating it inhibits the Justice Department’s ability to enforce the Controlled Substances Act.

Rohrabacher and co-sponsors Jared Polis, D-Colorado, and Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, made note that the medical marijuana protections are existing law and that public opinion is in favor of the existing medical cannabis regulations in 46 states.

“It would be a tragic mistake to lose the progress that we made,” Blumenauer said before the committee.

If Rohrabacher-Blumenauer failed to make the Rules Committee’s cut, it would not be a death knell for the amendment, legislative sources tell The Cannabist.

The potential short-term funding deal revealed Wednesday likely would include the existing Rohrabacher-Farr language, extending those protections through year’s end if it is approved. Additionally, the Senate Appropriations Committee authorized the medical marijuana protections amendment for inclusion in the larger spending bill.

Dennis “Denny” Heck, D-Washington, sponsored three amendments to allow for marijuana businesses to have access to banking. His proposals would prohibit the punishment of financial institutions that serve licensed marijuana businesses and prevent the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network from walking back or shelving its guidance for banks that work with marijuana firms.

“I think we all would recognize, we want (marijuana businesses) well-regulated,” Heck said.

These businesses being essentially forced to work primarily on a cash basis creates the potential for public harm, he said, referencing the June 2016 dispensary robbery in Aurora, Colo., that resulted in the death of security guard Travis Mason.

“Because criminals thought this was an all-cash business, they walked in and that young man named Travis Mason was shot dead,” Heck said. “This is a public safety issue.”

Which amendments made the cut are expected to be decided by Wednesday night. The appropriations bill with the approved amendments would then move to the floor of the House for a vote.

Watch the committee hearing:

All marijuana-related amendments that could be considered as part of the appropriations bills:

#141: Titus (NV), Polis (CO), Blumenauer (OR)
Late Prohibits the Department of Justice from prosecuting individuals from federally recognized Indian tribes who are in compliance with their tribal medical marijuana laws, or otherwise interfering with the implementation of such laws.

Division D: Financial Services

#4 Norton: (DC), Rohrabacher (CA), Blumenauer (OR), Lee, Barbara (CA)
Permits the District of Columbia to spend its local funds to regulate and tax recreational marijuana.

Alicia Wallace joined The Cannabist in July 2016, covering national marijuana policy and business. In her 14 years as a business news reporter, her coverage has spanned topics such as the economy, natural foods, airlines, biotech, retail,...